HC Deb 04 November 1987 vol 121 cc720-1W
15. Mr. Duffy

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to encourage investment in the inner cities.

Mr. Ridley

We have established five new urban development corporations and will be setting up a number of mini-UDCs, all of which will encourage investment. Urban development grant and urban regeneration grant generate substantial investment in inner cities. Our legislative proposals on the national non-domestic rate will remove a major obstacle to firms wishing to set up in those inner city areas which at present choose to have prohibitively high rates.

35. Mr. Ian Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for stimulating new enterprise in the inner cities.

Mr. Trippier

A number of my Department's programmes are specifically aimed at stimulating new enterprise in the inner cities. Urban development corporations, which operate in some of the most rundown areas, use their powers to acquire, reclaim and service land and their development control powers to create a climate of confidence to attract businesses and encourage them to invest.

Urban development grants are paid through local authorities to bridge the gap between the cost of a project and its value.

Urban regeneration grants work in the same way as urban development grants, but are paid direct to the private sector for projects which bring very large sites and buildings back into use.

Urban programme support for local authority assistance to industry is aimed at removing or reducing the competitive disadvantages suffered by business in rundown urban areas.

Other programmes, which are wider in scope, also help to encourage businesses to invest in inner city areas.

Derelict land grant covers part of the net loss to the landowner as a result of carrying out reclamation work; and land registers bring to the attention of prospective developers details of unused and underused land owned by public authorities.

In addition, our legislative proposals on the national non-domestic rate will remove a major obstacle to firms wishing to set up in those inner city areas which at present choose to have prohibitively high rates.

50. Mr. Simon Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to ensure that in his Department's housing and financial policies for the inner cities, the needs of existing inner city residents are given priority.

Mr. Trippier

Improving the quality of life for inner city residents is a key part of the Government's strategy for urban renewal. My Department's plans for giving council tenants the opportunity to find another landlord when they are dissatisfied with the service their local authority provides, and the competition and enterprise this will stimulate, should lead to a major improvement in the quality of housing management and service to inner city tenants. The Government have made it clear that housing action trusts will regard the interest of those already resident in their area as central. Policies to strengthen local authorities' financial accountability, and extended competition in the provision of services will also benefit inner city residents. The urban programme places a strong emphasis on economic, environmental and social projects of direct benefit to local residents, complementing wider measures designed to regenerate the urban economy.

Mr. Hood

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, for the purposes of tackling the inner cities crisis, he will make it his policy to consult church, environmental and housing organisations, local authorities and other members of the communities affected by such problems.

Mr. Trippier

The Department regularly discusses inner cities policy and the operation of existing programmes with a wide range of interested organisations and individuals including local authorities and representatives of the churches, business organisations, and other bodies concerned with economic, social, environmental and housing issues.